Page 81 of Heart Match

‘And?’ I ask.

‘He didn’t say anything, he just listened. When I asked him why he wouldn’t, you know, initiate things in the bedroom, he still didn’t answer,’ she says.

‘He said nothing? Nothing at all?’ says Naomi.

‘He just said he’s sorry and that I caught him by surprise and now he needs to think about it. I mean, what is there to think about?’

I look at Naomi and I know she’s probably thinking the same as I am. Our high school sweetheart friends are going through a crisis, and it’s strange, because they are this kind of couple that belong together and you can never imagine them apart.

‘Well, I like Tommy, but I like you best so I think you should get a vibrator,’ I say and we all burst out laughing. I’m glad I thought of saying something silly to wipe the sadness from Lexi’s face.

Despite all the craziness in my life, there’s nothing that makes me happier than seeing people I love happy. Even if I need to get them a vibrator myself.

We put on our playlist in the surround system and upgrade to sipping from the tequila bottle. We eat popcorn and order pizza. We strip off our clothes and try on lingerie, and we dance, and we sing to The Chainsmokers and Coldplay’s Something just like this in our underwear in the kitchen, then in my room in front of the mirrored closet pretending we have microphones in our hands, then jumping on the bed almost falling off, bumping into each other. If we’re going crazy, we do it properly. I feel like I’m on a high.

This is nice.

Sometimes it’s good to forget that we need to be strong all the freaking time, once in a while taking a break from being an adult helps to keep you sane.

After the dancing fit, we lay on my bed and stare at the ceiling. I’m so drunk I see stars spinning.

‘I can’t believe you coldly changed into your most sexy lingerie in front of Lucas Lamaire, making him watch,’ says Lexi sounding just as drunk as myself.

We all laugh hard until our bellies hurt and tears roll down our faces.

‘You’re such a little devil. Poor guy,’ says Naomi.

‘I was mad, so freaking mad. I’d have used any power I had to make him suffer,’ I say, vengeful.

‘Did he get hard?’

‘God, Naomi. I don’t think so, he left so …’ I say, remembering the face he made when he turned to leave. It still makes my heart ache a little.

‘So …?’ says Lexi.

‘Hurt,’ I say, finally finding the word.

‘I zhink he’s crayz ’bout you,’ mumbles Lexi.

‘From the things you told us and seeing the way he looked at you tonight when we arrived, he really is,’ says Naomi, shooting her dark green eyes at me like a laser.

I shake my head.

‘What have you done to him?’ asks Lexi.

‘The question is, what has he done to me?’ I say, covering my eyes with my forearm.

‘Will you go to the match?’ asks Lexi.

‘What? Are you crazy?’ I say sitting up.

‘Sorry, it was just a question! Please don’t hurt me,’ says Lexi, defensive but holding in a laugh. This makes me laugh.

I lay back on the bed again and we stay silent for a while.

‘Are you saying goodbye before he leaves?’ asks Naomi.

I let her question hang in the air. There’s also that. Sometimes I forget he’s leaving. The alcohol has slowed my brain down, and I’m glad for it, because the past three days I felt like it was crashing with so many thoughts. I have to make a life changing decision about work by Monday, then there’s the truth Luc failed to tell me, my face and private life all over the news, and Luc’s media advisor, and my encounter with Josh, and … Luc leaving. Luc’s leaving.

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